Chapter 10 - The Lake House
Charles opened the front door himself.
“No police.”
Damian raised his hands.
“Just me.”
“Ledger?”
“Inside my coat.”
Charles let him enter.
Mia sat on the staircase.
Her eyes were red.
But she wasn’t crying anymore.
“Mr. Cross.”
Damian looked at her.
“Hey.”
“Did you bring Mama?”
“She’s outside.”
Mia nodded seriously.
“Good.”
Charles pointed toward the study.
“Move.”
Damian obeyed.
Charles locked the door behind them.
“You could have had everything.”
Charles said.
“I already did.”
“No.”
“You had money.”
“I’m talking about control.”
Damian almost smiled.
“That’s why you’ll never understand me.”
Charles’s expression hardened.
“You think that maid changed you?”
“Her name is Elena.”
“There it is.”
Charles laughed.
“One birthday cake and suddenly you’re a different man.”
“No.”
Damian stepped closer.
“The cake just made me notice who everyone already was.”
Charles held out his hand.
“Ledger.”
Damian removed the book.
Charles snatched it.
Then began tearing pages out.
“You know what your problem is?”
Damian asked.
Charles looked up.
“You always assume destroying paper destroys truth.”
Charles froze.
Damian tapped his chest.
“Everything you’ve said since I walked through that door is already outside.”
Charles’s face went white.
He rushed toward the curtains.
Police lights exploded across the windows.
“Federal agents!”
“Drop everything!”
Charles grabbed Mia.
Damian moved instantly.
“Don’t.”
Charles backed toward the kitchen.
“I will not go to prison because of a housekeeper and her brat.”
Damian’s eyes changed.
Mia bit Charles’s hand.
Hard.
He shouted and released her.
She ran.
Damian caught her and covered her with his body as agents crashed through the rear entrance.
Charles tried to flee.
He made it six steps.
Then officers forced him to the floor.
Minutes later, Elena burst into the house.
“Mia!”
“Mama!”
The little girl ran into her arms.
Elena dropped to her knees.
She kissed Mia’s hair, cheeks, hands.
“You never go with anyone again.”
Mia sobbed.
“He said Daddy wanted me.”
Elena’s face broke.
Marco had taught Charles exactly which lie would work.
Damian stood nearby.
Mia reached one hand toward him.
He came closer.
She grabbed his sleeve.
“You came.”
“I told you.”
Mia wiped her eyes.
Then whispered something only Damian heard.
“Can you stay?”
He looked at Elena.
Neither adult knew what to say.
Because suddenly the hardest part wasn’t saving Mia.
May you like
It was deciding what happened after everyone was safe.
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